Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

		Fair Value
Financial Instrument	Hierarchy	December 31, 2013		December 31, 2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
Marketable securities (available-for-sale)
Equity securities	Level 1	$	389,323	$	208,818
Debt securities - maturity less than 1 year	Level 2		72,577		54,388
Debt securities - maturity 1 to 5 years	Level 2		106,566		277,514
Debt securities - maturity greater than 5 years	Level 2		19,601		11,218
Total available-for-sale securities		$	588,067	$	551,938
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	Level 2	$	92,578	$	119,953
Metropolitan district bond securities (available-for-sale) (1)	Level 3	$	12,729	$	12,920

Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block]

	December 31, 2013				December 31, 2012
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Homebuilding:
Equity securities	$	375,142	$	385,303	$	208,279	$	208,818
Debt securities		181,635		183,718		306,793		310,647
Total homebuilding available-for-sale securities	$	556,777	$	569,021	$	515,072	$	519,465
Financial Services:
Equity securities	$	4,000	$	4,020	$	-	$	-
Debt securities		14,721		15,026		32,028		32,473
Total financial services available-for-sale debt securities	$	18,721	$	19,046	$	32,028	$	32,473
Total available-for-sale marketable securities	$	575,498	$	588,067	$	547,100	$	551,938

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31, 2013							Year Ended December 31, 2012
	Number of Securities in Loss Position		Aggregate Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in a Loss Position		Number of Securities in Loss Position		Aggregate Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in a Loss Position
	(Dollars in thousands)
Type of Investment
Debt		72	$	(430	)	$	46,440		88	$	(594	)	$	103,684
Equity		7		(713	)		14,174		1		(2,060	)		52,988
Total		79	$	(1,143	)	$	60,614		89	$	(2,654	)	$	156,672

Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	1,251		$	-		$	-
Debt securities		83			608			1,246
Total	$	1,334		$	608		$	1,246
Gross realized losses on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	-		$	-		$	-
Debt securities		(3,794	)		(1,287	)		(1,231	)
Total	$	(3,794	)	$	(1,287	)	$	(1,231	)
Net realized gain (loss) on sales of available-for-sale securities	$	(2,460	)	$	(679	)	$	15

Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]

	Quantitative Data					Sensitivity Analysis
Unobservable Input	Range			Weighted Average		Movement in Fair Value from Increase in Input		Movement in Fair Value from Decrease in Input
Discount rate	6%	to	16%		10%		Decrease		Increase
Number of homes closed per year	0	to	155		88		Increase		Decrease

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	5,818		$	6,663
Increase in fair value (recorded in other comprehensive income)		6,373			-
Change due to accretion of principal		1,192			-
Cash receipts		(654	)		(845	)
Balance at end of period	$	12,729		$	5,818

	December 31, 2013				December 31, 2012
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
5⅜% Senior Notes due December 2014, net	$	249,814	$	258,750	$	249,621	$	267,208
5⅜% Senior Notes due July 2015, net		249,935		262,562		249,895		268,867
5⅝% Senior Notes due February 2020, net		245,871		259,688		245,326		273,125
6% Senior Notes due January 2043		350,000		305,083		-		-
Total	$	1,095,620	$	1,086,083	$	744,842	$	809,200

	Carrying Value of Impaired Inventory at
	December 31, 2013		December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
West		-		-
Mountain		-		-
East		4,187		2,775
Total	$	4,187	$	2,775